Power

"I've finally killed a Viscount Rank monster!"

More than a year had passed since Kai had been banished to this god-forsaken forest. During this time, he had grown immensely.

From being a normal person with no core, he managed to become a G+ Rank Awakener. That was extremely impressive considering that it requires twice the effort to raise the rank of his Mana Heart even by a minor realm.

However, it also meant that he was stronger than a normal G+ rank mage or conjurer.

The white desert he entered every time upon falling asleep played a crucial part in this progress. It was truly a perfect training ground. The thick layers of Lunar Energy in the area allowed him to cultivate his Mana Heart at an astonishing rate and the magical cave served as a perfect place to refine his skills and movements.

Kai also didn't forget to battle the creatures of the forest to accumulate experience and test out his progress after each training session.

And finally, after all his hard work and dedication, he had achieved a major milestone in his journey...

He defeated a Viscount Rank monster without using his skill 'Fear'.

"This calls for a celebration."

Pulling out his cobalt spear out of the Stormclaw's chest, Kai quickly used its blade to carve out a chunk of meat from the fallen monster.

After everything was done, he quickly threw his stuff into the Spatial Ring and began making his way back toward his shelter.

A lot has changed since the day Kai appeared here.

First, his demeanor was very different. Just half a year ago, he was forced to hide and cower from the dangers of this forest, however, now, he knew that the only creatures that could pose a threat would emerge at nightfall or when he ventured into more dangerous areas.

Secondly, Kai's physical appearance had undergone a noticeable transformation. His previously skinny frame had put on some muscle mass and his once pale complexion had gained a healthy tan from spending countless hours under the sun.

Although he still looked somewhat malnourished, he at least no longer appeared emaciated or weak.

Tap... Tap...

Approaching the hill where his shelter was located, Kai quickly entered the cave and picked up some branches and moss to start a fire.

This time, he decided to light it up on top of the hill rather than inside the cave, since it was only morning.

As he placed the branches in a pile and positioned the moss for easy ignition, Kai began to gather his Mana from the ring surrounding his Lunar Core. Although it felt unnatural, he knew that it was a necessary part of his routine.

Willing the Mana to float into the air, Kai focused, allowing the energy to intertwine with the surrounding atmosphere. Slowly, the air around him started to shimmer and thicken with the presence of Mana.

It was then that Kai applied a fire element to his Mana, causing sparks to form between his fingertips.

"..."

Looking at the flickering flames in his hands, Kai couldn't help but smirk.

Another thing he had managed to achieve during the past few months was understanding how to use the Mana outside his body, and how to control this energy that came out of his Ring.

It felt weird. In his past life, Kai had been a conjurer and making mana flow outside of his body was uncomfortable and new to him. He had to recalibrate his understanding of magic and energy manipulation to fit this new body, but he was making progress.

He was even able to summon small flames like this...

It might not seem like much but it was a significant milestone for Kai.

Crack... Crack...

He watched as the flames danced and crackled, roasting the chunk of Stormclaw's flesh that he had managed to scavenge from his recent victory.

The smell of sizzling meat soon filled the air, making Kai's stomach growl in anticipation.

"Time to eat..."

With a satisfied grin, Kai settled down by the fire and tore into the succulent morsels of Stormclaw meat.

He could taste the richness of the meat, a satisfying reward for his hard-fought battle.

Unfortunately, some other monsters were also drawn to the scent of the roasting Stormclaw meat. They prowled in the shadows, their eyes gleaming with hunger as they edged closer to Kai's location.

[ Fear ]

However, all it took was a single glance from Kai to make them reconsider. The pressure emanating from his skill, a borderline Earl Rank aura, was too intimidating for the lesser monsters to challenge. They retreated, choosing to seek easier prey elsewhere.

Kai chuckled to himself lightly as he watched them scatter into the darkness. He reminded himself to thank Alexandra for this skill next time they meet.

After he was done eating, Kai cleaned up the remains of his meal and extinguished the fire, leaving no trace of his presence.

He then pulled out his cobalt spear and began to wander in a specific direction.

He had a task to complete and now that he had enough strength and control over his newfound skills, he was confident in his ability to accomplish it.